Spilling the Beans.

Well, my friends - the time has come.

It's obvious I'm pregnant.

(And not just because my chest is bigger. Which was a coworker's response when I shared that I was pregnant. Which was sort of creepy but mostly awesome.) 

Check it-

I just came back from a lovely three-day retreat with the high school girls. I never would have guessed it, but there is NOTHING that makes high school girls happier than squealing about engagements, husbands, marriage, and babies. Seriously. You should see their faces when they ask me questions like, "How did he propose?" "Was is fun being in college and planning a wedding?" and "How did you tell your husband you were pregnant?". One of them even declared with a sigh, "I can't *wait* to get older!"

She's a senior getting ready to go to the best college ever (my alma mater. not biased) and I assured her to that college is going to be wonderful - that she shouldn't wish away her life (don't we all need to be reminded that?). It's sort of adorable and makes me feel kind of awesome, though.

So, how did I let the students know? Well, I didn't exactly have a say in the matter...

One of the girls asked my friend and fellow teacher if I was pregnant during lunch yesterday.

"No. Why?" she replied.

"Well, it looks like she might have a little baby bump," the student said with a smile.

"I have a little belly," my friend pointed to her stomach, "does that mean I'm pregnant?"

"No, no! You're not fat at all!" the student reassured her, obviously embarrassed.

My friend came over and relayed the story to me. Within earshot of the student. Suddenly, ALL the students in the area were staring at me, smiling. They started pelting me with name suggestions, all their own names, of course. "Kelly Ann is a beautiful name!" "Nicole Ashley is a great name!" and asking me questions about how far along I was and if I knew the gender (most popular question to ask a pregnant woman EVER. For real).

The news spread quickly around the retreat, and suddenly 70 girls knew I was pregnant. They were coming up to me, telling me how they suspected something, since "You're so tiny, you wouldn't just be fat." and how girls I didn't even know were speculating about my expanding waistline. They were excited and adorable and it was the best possible way I can imagine sharing this news with students.

This also means it's only a matter of time until the rest of school finds out. I'm four months pregnant and I'm excited for others to know, but still a bit hesitant about the attention I'm sure I'll receive. It's not that I don't LOVE the experience of being pregnant, and will be relieved that others will finally know - I'm just not comfortable with people paying lots of attention to me. (Says the girl with the blog.) Plus, having a secret is more fun than I expected it to be. 

In other Fun News, I had my first complete stranger congratulate me today - which I definitely did not expect at a mere 17 weeks. During Mass today, the woman next to asked as if it was our first. I smiled and nodded.

This is getting more and more real, and decisions are getting closer and closer to being made. I am hopeful about our future - and excited for this little peanut (eh, onion) to grow. It's amazing how you can adjust your life in just a few short months. I didn't expect to become a mother by the end of the summer, but I am quickly growing accustomed to, and even excited about, this new development.

I know we've all had times in our lives when things didn't go according to plan - and now is my turn for a Pretty Big Thing. And I think it might be awesome.